Cairo: EgyPulse – News Desk
The first phase of Egypt’s House of Representatives election, which kicked off on Monday, drew notable attention from international media outlets, according to the State Information Service (SIS). SIS Chairman Diaa Rashwan said that 86 accredited international media institutions, including global news agencies, newspapers, TV channels, and online platforms, were officially authorized to cover the election, alongside numerous other Arab and foreign outlets that followed and commented on the polls.
Rashwan noted that the SIS’s Foreign Press Center had facilitated the work of foreign correspondents covering the election in the 14 governorates of the first phase, responding promptly to any logistical or procedural issues they reported. He explained that most remarks from correspondents related to requests for filming inside polling stations, which were promptly addressed through coordination with the National Election Authority (NEA) and presiding judges, who were reminded that media coverage and filming were allowed subject to crowd levels and on-site conditions.
The SIS chairman said that media monitoring conducted by the service’s operations room confirmed strong international interest in the election, with coverage focusing on transparency safeguards set by the NEA, the full judicial supervision of polling, and the role of local and international civil society observers.
Rashwan added that the SIS recorded dozens of reports and features across media in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Arab world, published in multiple languages, including Arabic, English, Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Turkish, Persian, Chinese, Hindi, Hebrew, Korean, and Japanese. Coverage took various formats, from short news items and TV reports to in-depth analytical articles.
He said that the dominant tone in international coverage was factual and objective, highlighting Egypt’s secure and stable environment during the election, the smooth facilitation for voters, and the procedural aspects of candidate and list competition. Discussion mainly centered on debates over the electoral system, closed versus proportional lists, and shifts in party representation compared to previous elections.
Several outlets described the election as a pivotal political moment for Egypt, with the new parliament expected to address key national priorities, including enhancing transparency, strengthening government oversight, and modernizing economic and administrative legislation to attract investment and support production. The legislature is also anticipated to play a role in the National Dialogue and in implementing its recommendations to expand political participation and public trust.
Rashwan pointed out that many Arab and international outlets also highlighted Egypt’s growing national pride following major recent events, notably the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit, both of which drew extensive global coverage.
He added that foreign media also noted the strong voter turnout among Egyptian expatriates, who cast their ballots at 139 polling stations located in Egyptian embassies and consulates across 117 countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and several European and Arab states, exceeding participation levels recorded in the Senate election last August.
The coverage also emphasized the competitive nature of the election, conducted under a mixed system of party-list and individual seats, with heated contests among party-affiliated and independent candidates alike.
